Customer Reviews

Point Blank (Alex Rider Adventures)

5 star:		(102)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Alex Rider, the youngest spy ever recruited and forced into service by MI6--Great Britain's premiere espionage agency, returns in POINT BLANK with a vengeance. Only a few days have passed since Alex's last adventure when he helped catch the man responsible for murdering his uncle, Ian Rider, who had also been a spy. His excuses, a doctor's note no one quite believes, have barely been made before he's spirited off by Alan Blunt and Mrs. Jones, the head of Special Operations. Two deaths of rich and powerful men, one of them a personal friend of Blunt's, have triggered an investigation into the matter of those deaths. One man was killed violently while the other, a VERY careful man, apparently died by an unfortunate accident. The common denominator: both men had problem children, sons that were sent to a new school in France called Point Blanc. Blunt assigns Alex to infiltrate the school on a Search and Report mission. Once there, Alex discovers that the boys attending the school are all eerie, all acting like little puppets who answer every command of the creepy Dr. Hugo Grief and Mrs. Stellenbosch. In no time at all, Alex Rider fourteen year old spy extraordinaire is once more facing a grim and certain death if he doesn't use every ounce of cunning and intelligence he possesses.

Anthony Horowitz is a novelist and TV writer. In addition to the two Alex Rider novels he's written (STORMBREAKER and POINT BLANK), he's also penned THE DEVIL AND HIS BOY, a historical thriller, THE DEVIL'S DOOR-BELL, NIGHT OF THE SCORPION, THE SILVER CITADEL, and short story collections, DEATH WALKS TONIGHT and MYTHS AND LEGENDS. He's written television scripts for POIROT and MIDSUMMER MURDERS, and recently created two television series for the BBC.

The pacing in POINT BLANK rivals the breakneck speed shown in STORMBREAKER. The story yanks the reader along, as if daring him or her to keep up. Although the book is written about a fourteen year old spy, the prose is keen and precise, rivaling any of that in today's thrillers. The book can be enjoyed by young readers as well as adults, and for the very same reasons. The action sequences are some of the best, tight and intricately planned. Horowitz stays just this side of SF and blends the effect neatly into the spy story. His villains are definitely of James Bond caliber, unique and attention-getting while at the same time vile and loathsome. Alex's tools of the spy trade, delivered by his very own Q-type spy inventor, are neat and plausible. Getting to see SAS soldier Wolf (from the first novel, STORMBREAKER) again was great. It seems Horowitz is going to create a world for his young spy and keep it interactive, weaving threads in one book that will come to fruition in successive novels.

There could be, perhaps, a little more dialogue in the book. Reading narration can be fun, but a reader's ears stay pricked for the conversations a character has. Of course, Alex isn't exactly overly verbose, but other characters could talk to him as well. And there needs to be a little more about Jack Starbright, Alex's housekeeper. So far, all the reader knows is that she is from America. What brought her to Great Britain and why does she continue to stay? Maybe the author has even more secrets to unveil.

POINT BLANK is a wonderful novel of action and suspense. Any reader waiting anxiously for the release of Vin Diesel's new movie, XXX, or the new James Bond film will definitely find a story in this book to meet the driving excitement in those properties.

Alex Rider is the youngest member of Britain's elite M16 spying agency. He didn't think it would be too bad, but it's hard to be James Bond when everyone thinks that you are too young to carry a gun. After barely surviving his last adventure Alex is back at school - but M16 has plans for Alex. Shipped off to Point Blanc Academy, Alex is about to face a dangerous foe. Dr. Grief - the academy director - has plans for Alex, plans that place him in danger. Alex has to figure out what is going on - before he becomes the latest subject in Project Gemini.

This book is one of the best sequels that I have read for a long time. I loved the opening action scene where Alex manages to cause a lot of damage with a crane and a barge (I won't ruin it by saying anymore) - and the rest of the book kept up with that opening scene. I found that this book was more gripping than the first because it was tricky - just when you thought you had it figured out the author changed the rules.

Girls and guys alike will enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed novel. I can't wait until the next book in this series comes out. I have also recommended these books to my brother who reads Tom Clancy and he enjoyed them too. The best part about this Alex Rider adventure is that the end will leave you thinking about the book for a long time (but if I tell you why it will ruin the ending so you have to read this book for yourself).

Point Blank is the most action packed book I've ever read besides Stormbreaker. Alex Rider saves the day again! Working for the british secret service, Alex is sent into the acadamey of Poin Blanc. Alex has only a few gadgets to save the world from an evil scientist. Once again Alex Rider must save the world. This time from cloning!

I was just looking through some books when I saw the cover of Point Blanc. I thought it looked cool, so I picked it up and read the first two sentences. From that moment on, I knew this book was for me. I bought it and read some of it on my way home. I had finished it within two or three hours, it was so good. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes anything military at all. The first chapter is really brilliant, as is the whole book. The detail is fantastic, ecpecially on anything mechanical, such as cranes, guns, helicopters and aeroplanes. The book's starting chapther is amazing. Read the first sentance and your hooked on it.

Again, Alex Rider will be a hit with junior high kids. It is fun for adults as well. Read the books in order for a better read!

This is a really gripping book. It keeps you wanting to turn the next page all the way through. Its witty, even though the cover reads to be a bit unrealistic, it unfoldes into a large web of lies and evil as a insane South African's dream to take over the world and change it into a racist one becomes a reality. The 14 year old MI6 agent Alex goes undercover as a rich mans rebel son, who is sent to Point Blanc Academy, with a group of drug dealers and fire starters. With no gun he is sent to a heavily guarded school run buy a South African bio chemist, and the 7 boys there are watched buy 30 armed guards. The Lower, 2nd and 3rd floors are out of bounds, and there seems to be no way up to invesigate. With only his SAS survival training, will Alex manage to dig up info on the evil headmaster. Will this be Alex's last mission?

Take an oddly structured mansion. Add a crazed genius. Add a freakish, muscle-enhanced woman. Put in some juvenile deliquents. Wait, make them the sons of very wealthy men. What do they have in common? Why, Alex Rider, of course, of England's M16 spy agency.

A 14-year-old spy? Yes, that would be Alex. Did he ask to be a spy? No, he did not, but he rose to the occasion when it was demanded of him. The remarkable aspect of "Point Blank" and "Stormbreaker" before it is that writer Anthony Horowitz makes the whole thing so believable. When Alex does the most extraordinary things, I found myself thinking, Not beyond the realm of possible (in other words--doable).

How does Alex find himself in the dilemma of juvie thrust into a highly disciplined all-boys school? His outrageous behavior, of course. What he tries to do with a houseboat is possibly not beyond possible and he is put into jail, later rescued by M16 and pretty much forced into involuntary service once again. This time his job is to learn what is going on in this special school for unmanageable boys of rich men. Two of their fathers were killed in "accidents" in a fairly short period.

What Alex learns becomes more and more bizarre (but believable). The ultimate occurs, however, when his true identity is learned. The reader can trust that wherever Alex Rider is will be mayhem and maybe a murder or two. "Point Blank" is no exception.

Book 3 in the series is Skeleton Key (Alex Rider). I am waiting for it to come in. If you are interested in a graphic novel in this series, try Point Blank: The Graphic Novel (Alex Rider (Graphic Novels)). But do start with the first book in the series, Alex Rider: Stormbreaker tie-in novel (Alex Rider Movie) or Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel (Alex Rider (Graphic Novels)). A definitely exciting young adult series!

Anthony Horowitz is at it agian by releasing the second book of the Alex Rider series Point Blank. In this book, Alex is forced into another adventure by MI6. Alex is sent to live with one of the richest people in the world and is almost killed before his real mission has even started. Next, he is sent to spy on another madman, Dr.Greif.

I gave this book 4 stars because it is full of action and adventure. You will never know whats going to happen next.This is a great book that you have to read

Point Blank is one of the best books I have ever read. Some of the other books I have enjoyed are Stormbreaker also by Anthony Horowitz and the animorphs series by K.A. Applegate.
Point Blank starts like any other book with a child as the main character. The catch is that Alex Rider is no ordinary kid, he works for MI6. Yeah that's right, the same organization James Bond works for. Anyway, you know how Bond films always have a little "mission" at the beginning and Point Blank in no exception. I'm not going to tell you what it is but it is really cool. After he receives a call from MI6, he has a new mission.
Something is going on at a private correctional school in France called Point Blanc, they want Alex to find out what. However, Point Blanc only takes the sons of the super-rich or ultra-powerful. Because of that, Alex must disguise himself as a billionaire's delinquent son. While he is doing that he receives all of his gadgets for the upcoming mission. A CD player that turns into a saw and a book that shoots poison darts, to name a few. Once at Point Blanc Alex discovers that there is a mysterious "project Gemini" happening. He also makes a friend named James. Then one night he hears screaming in the hallways, but when he goes to see what happened there is nobody there.
This is not the end of the book but I am not going to tell you any more. If you want to find out read the book. This is a hair-raising spine- tingling adventure with a great ending. I really liked this book because it kept me guessing right up until the end where everything is neatly sorted out. Watch out James Bond. Alex Rider is the new star.

If you're a young reader wanting lots of action, open the cover of Point Blank by Anthony Horowitz, the second in the Alex Rider Adventure series, and prepare yourself for some truly unbelievable excitement.

Alex Rider is the reluctant teenage spy, who gets called into duty by M16, the British intelligence agency. The agency gives Alex the types of tools that you would expect James Bond to have, except for firearms. Even when Alex grabs a gun to stop the fleeing Dr. Grief, the gun is jammed or out of bullets. Alex must resort to using his head-and being extremely lucky.

Mr. Horowitz does an excellent job of depicting some truly horrible villains. Dr. Hugo Grief had the pallid appearance of a vampire, the maniacal dreams of an Adolf Hitler, and a name that foretold his mission in life. His female sidekick was anything but lovely; Eva Stellenbosch would cause any hormone-crazed male to take a vow of celibacy.

Although many teenagers may desire the exciting life of a spy, I doubt that many would want to be Alex Rider. He genuinely does not enjoy his role as the youngest spy for M16. He gets duped into taking the assignment of determining Dr. Grief's role in the death of two prominent men, which turns out to be anything but fun for him. His life is frequently threatened. One of the special tools that is provided to him is a CD player that calls for reinforcement when he hits the fast-forward key three times. When employed, Alan Blunt, the director of M16, delays rescue of Alex an additional 24 hours to ensure that he has his assignment completed, essentially unconcerned about Alex's safety-and his promise to rescue him when summoned.

The primary weakness of Point Blank is the unbelievable nature of much of the action. If the odds are only one in a million that Alex will succeed, have no fear, Alex will prevail-time after time. With his extreme luck, he should just buy a lottery ticket and watch the money come in. Then he wouldn't have the constant concern of getting caught up with his schoolwork back at the academy in West London. And some readers may find the uncertainty of the ending to be disheartening, but fear not. Sequels have already been published. So read on reader.